Jasper

11-year old Rottweiler-Shepherd Mix

68 lbs

Veterinarian: Marie Bartling, DVM

HISTORY –

Jasper has fought arthritis and tendonitis his whole life. Over the last two years, he was slowing down, becoming skittish and limping nearly all the time in his front legs. You could visibly see how hard it was for him to get up and lay down comfortably using his spine and back legs.

He had been through a TPLO knee surgery on each side. He had already seen a surgeon and had injections with platelet rich plasma for his shoulder and hip joints and tendons. He had also had Synamid® injections in his elbows. All of this helped a little, but he was still overall in pain which limited his lifestyle — no running or playing.

EXAM –

Persistent lameness with mild head-bob alternating in the thoracic limbs 3/5.
Painful with flexibility testing of shoulder muscles and with range of motion of elbows.
Stiff in the range of motion of his hips and lumbar spine.
Unable to balance with strength to perform a three-legged stand on any leg.
Veterinary pain score based on the CSU chronic pain scale was 2/4.
CBPI from home evaluation was 7/10 for pain score and 7/10 for affecting his mobility.
Visibly observed significant challenges getting up and laying down comfortably in the exam room.

DIAGNOSTICS –

Shoulder, elbow, hip, stifle and spine x-rays
Shoulder US

DIAGNOSIS –

Moderate chronic inflammation of the supraspinatus and biceps tendons - both shoulders
Moderate shoulder arthritis, elbow arthritis and hip arthritis
Severe stifle arthritis

TREATMENTS -

MEDICATION

First, we used medications including NMDA receptor blockage to reset the pain system. This helped tremendously with his ability to relax and to be touched, but he was still limping.

PHYSICAL MEDICINE

Short anesthesia.
Shockwave to relieve spasm for his shoulders, back and hips and to treat his shoulder tendonopathy.
Injection of Spryng™ 2ml per shoulder, hip and elbow, 1ml per stifle.

OUTCOME -

Within a week from his office visit, Jasper was no longer limping.
Within a month, he was down to only one medication and a joint supplement.
His activity increased, playing — not being fearful — back to the dog he was as a youngster.
He even allowed a nail trim with ease for the first time in years.
Jasper has been doing this well for 90 days, we expect his injections to provide some cushion for a year or more!